Former PBA MVP Arwind Santos is set to join his home province's Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) team, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns. Santos' contract with the PBA club NorthPort Batang Pier expired, and he will debut for the MPBL team in their quarterfinal series against the Marikina Shoe Masters.
The first game of the best-of-three series is scheduled for Friday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in Pampanga. Santos became an unrestricted free agent at the end of September when no offer sheet was presented by the Batang Pier, according to his agent Danny Espiritu.
Pampanga Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, who played a significant role in Santos' early basketball career, encouraged the 42-year-old veteran to join the MPBL as the Lanterns aim for their first league championship. Governor Pineda also serves as the Lanterns' head coach.
In Pampanga, Santos will team up with former Gilas Pilipinas player Justine Baltazar and former Phoenix Fuel Masters guard Encho Serrano. Santos still harbors hopes of returning to the PBA after his MPBL stint, with a potential landing spot being Converge. Santos has expressed his intention to continue playing for two more years.
Santos has enjoyed a remarkable 16-season career in the PBA, winning nine championships, including two Finals MVP awards, two Best Player of the Conference awards, three Defensive Player of the Year honors, and making the Mythical First Team ten times. He was drafted second overall in 2006 and spent most of his career with the San Miguel Beermen before being traded to the Batang Pier in 2021.
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